JPH11192771A - Recording apparatus and test pattern recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record readily discriminative test patterns with no regard to the color of a recording color agent to be used by recording predetermined patterns in use of a second recording pattern recorded by a different recording color agent from a recording color agent to be recorded by a first recording means. SOLUTION: A plurality of lines at the right side show test patterns 302 recording by a cyan hypochromic recording head employing cyan hypochromic ink as a first recording color agent. Also, patterns 303 as the background of the test patterns 302 are yellow ink test patterns as a second recording agent recorded by a second recording head. A plurality of lines at the left side are test patterns 301 of black ink as a third recording color agent recorded by a black recording head. The decision of registration is made in such that whether the test patterns 301 and test patterns 302 lies or not on a straight line at the position of a reference line 304.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for recording characters and images on a recording medium such as paper, and more particularly to a recording apparatus and a test pattern recording method capable of recording a test pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus for recording characters and images, a pre-registered test pattern is used as a means for adjusting the expression (registration) of characters and images recorded by the recording apparatus. Some have the function of recording on a recording medium such as The test patterns to be used include, for example, various duty block patterns and character patterns.

[0003]

However, in the recording apparatus having the above-described functions, the color of the recording colorant to be recorded on the recording medium is light and invisible due to the recording head used. Test patterns performed may not play their original role.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a test pattern when a plurality of recording heads as a conventional example are used. As shown in the drawing, when a test pattern 401 using a black ink printhead and a test pattern 402 using a cyan light ink printhead are printed as 100% duty test patterns, for example, a general white print is used. When a medium is used, the pattern 402 by the cyan light ink recording head becomes very difficult to see.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a test pattern recording method for recording a test pattern which can be easily distinguished regardless of the color of the recording colorant used.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a printing apparatus comprising a plurality of printing means corresponding to printing colorants and a control means for printing a predetermined pattern for each of the printing means, wherein the control means is provided by a first printing means. A second recording unit records the predetermined pattern on at least a part of the predetermined pattern to be recorded, using a recording colorant different from the recording colorant recorded by the first recording unit.

Further, for example, the control means may include a predetermined pattern recorded by the first recording means in a predetermined pattern recorded by the second recording means.

Further, for example, the control means may record the block pattern of a predetermined duty by the first and second recording means.

[0010] For example, the control means may further include a recording color different from the recording color material recorded by the first and second recording means near a predetermined pattern recorded by the first and second recording means. It is characterized in that a predetermined pattern is recorded by third recording means for recording with a colorant.

Alternatively, in order to achieve the above object, a test pattern recording method according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a recording method for recording a predetermined test pattern with a plurality of recording means provided in a recording apparatus using a different recording colorant for each of the recording means, wherein the predetermined recording pattern is recorded by the first recording means. A predetermined test pattern is recorded on at least a part of the test pattern by the second recording means, wherein the recording is performed using a recording colorant different from the recording colorant recorded by the first recording means.

Further, for example, the predetermined test pattern recorded by the second recording means may include a predetermined test pattern recorded by the first recording means.

Also, for example, the predetermined test pattern may be a block pattern having a predetermined duty.

Further, for example, a recording color material different from the recording color material recorded by the first and second recording means is provided in the vicinity of a predetermined test pattern recorded by the first and second recording means. It is preferable that a predetermined test pattern is recorded by a third recording means to be recorded.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a color printer system used as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal configuration of a color card printer used as an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a color card printer 200 includes an external device 102 such as a host computer.
And a cable 101. CPU25
1, the control unit 250 records an image on a card paper as a recording medium built in the feeder unit 213 based on data such as image information received via the cable 101. Further, the color card printer 100 sequentially stores the card paper on which the recording has been completed in the stacker unit 214.

As shown in FIG. 2, the color card printer 200 includes a plurality of ink jet type recording heads as recording means. However, the present invention is not limited to this type. Needless to say, it is applicable. Needless to say, the recording medium is not limited to card paper.

The color card printer 200 has a recording head 201 for black ink and a recording head 20 for cyan as ink jet recording heads as recording means.
2. It has six recording heads: a cyan light recording head 203, a magenta recording head 204, a magenta light recording head 205, and a yellow recording head 206. Also,
Cartridges 207, 208, 209, 210, 21
Reference numerals 1 and 212 respectively store inks as recording colorants used by six recording heads for image recording.
The control unit 250 records the image on the card paper by appropriately using the six recording heads based on the image received from the external device.

A general method is used for the image recording process by the control unit 250 and the card paper conveying process performed according to the image recording process.
Detailed description of the present embodiment will be omitted.

Next, a test pattern in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a test pattern recorded by the recording apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. This test pattern is stored in the RAM 252 in the control unit 250.
Etc., which are registered in advance in the external device 1 by the operator.
02 or the color card printer 200
Is output in response to an operation from the operation unit.

In the figure, a plurality of lines on the right side indicate a test pattern 3 recorded by a cyan light recording head 203 using cyan light ink as a first recording colorant.
02. The pattern 303 serving as the background of the test pattern 302 is the printhead 206 for yellow.
Is a test pattern of yellow ink as the second recording colorant recorded by the above. Further, a plurality of lines on the left side are a test pattern 301 of black ink as a third recording colorant recorded by the black recording head 201. The determination of the registration is made by comparing the test pattern 301 and the test pattern 302 at the position of the reference line 304.
May be determined based on whether or not are aligned.
At this time, the test pattern 301 and the test pattern 30
2 are aligned in a line different from the position of the reference line 304, the cyan light recording head 203 and the yellow recording head 206 are not set at predetermined positions, and adjustment is necessary. Represents

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the test pattern 301 of black ink is recorded at a regular line interval of X, and the test pattern 302 of light cyan ink is recorded at a regular line interval. It is recorded at equal intervals of (X + 1). Here, one unit is one dot, and X may be, for example, a plurality of predetermined dots in the image forming process of the control unit 250.

Further, in this embodiment, a test pattern 303 of yellow ink is recorded as a block pattern of 100% duty around the test pattern 302 of cyan light ink. As a result, even when cyan light ink is used for the test pattern 302, it can be easily determined by the presence of the yellow ink test pattern 303 around it. In this case, when a white card paper is used for the recording medium, the test pattern 302 of the cyan light ink becomes green on the test pattern 303 of the yellow ink, but this does not impair the purpose of determining the registration.

As described above, in this embodiment, by forming the base on the recording medium with the ink that does not affect the original purpose of the test pattern, the expression of the test pattern recorded by a plurality of recording heads (resist ) Can be easily determined even when using a light ink that is invisible, such as “cyan light”.

<Modification of Embodiment> In the above embodiment, a test pattern for registration adjustment is given as a test pattern. In addition, the present invention is applied to a so-called full solid pattern as shown in FIG. Is also good.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a test pattern recorded by a recording apparatus as a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. A test pattern 401 of black ink, which is a block pattern of 100% duty, is recorded at the upper part of the figure, and a test pattern 4 of cyan light ink, which is a block pattern of 100% duty, is recorded below it.
02 and the test pattern 4 of yellow ink around it
03 is recorded as a block pattern of 100% duty. As a result, it is possible to easily discriminate as in the case of FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the cyan light ink is used as the first recording colorant. Alternatively, magenta light or yellow ink may be used. Further, in the above embodiment, the yellow ink is used as the second recording colorant, but other black, cyan, cyan light, magenta, and magenta inks may be used. However,
It is needless to say that it is not preferable that the first recording colorant and the second recording colorant have the same color.

In the above embodiment, black ink is used as the third recording colorant. Alternatively, cyan, cyan pale, magenta, magenta pale, or yellow ink may be used.

In the above embodiment, 100% du is used.
ty block pattern, but 75% and 50%
It goes without saying that it may be the same.

According to the above-described embodiment, a test pattern by a light-colored recording element, which is difficult to determine with a single color, can be easily determined similarly to a dark color.

[0034]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.) as in the above-described embodiment, one device may be used. (For example,
Copy machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a recording apparatus and a test pattern recording method for recording a test pattern that can be easily determined regardless of the color of the recording colorant used. Accordingly, the operator can easily perform the adjustment work of the recording device by using the test pattern recorded by the recording device to be adjusted.

[0041]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a color printer system used as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an internal configuration of a color card printer used as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a test pattern recorded by a recording apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a test pattern recorded by a recording apparatus as a modification of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a test pattern when a plurality of recording heads is used as a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200: color card printer, 201: printer connection cable, 202: host computer, 213: feeder unit, 214: stacker unit, 201: print head (black), 202: print head (cyan), 203: print head (light cyan) ), 204: printhead (magenta), 205: printhead (light magenta), 206: printhead (yellow), 207: ink cartridge (black), 208: ink cartridge (cyan), 209: ink cartridge (light cyan) ), 210: ink cartridge (magenta), 211: ink cartridge (light magenta), 212: ink cartridge (yellow), 250: control unit, 251: CPU, 252: RAM, 253: ROM,

Claims (11)

[Claims] A plurality of recording means corresponding to a recording colorant;
A control unit that records a predetermined pattern for each of the recording units, wherein the control unit records the first pattern on at least a part of the predetermined pattern recorded by the first recording unit. And a second recording means for recording a predetermined pattern by using a recording color material different from the recording color material to be used. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a predetermined pattern recorded by the first recording unit by a predetermined pattern recorded by the second recording unit. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means records a predetermined duty block pattern by said first and second recording means. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined duty differs between the first recording unit and the second recording unit. 5. The recording means according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording color different from a recording color material recorded by said first and second recording means, near a predetermined pattern recorded by said first and second recording means. 2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined pattern is recorded by a third recording means for recording with an agent. 6. A light cyan ink, wherein the first recording means is
2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein yellow ink is used for said second recording means. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first recording means includes cyan light ink,
The second recording means includes yellow ink,
6. A recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein black ink is used for said recording means. 8. A recording method for recording a predetermined test pattern by using a plurality of recording means provided in a recording apparatus and using a different recording colorant for each of the recording means, wherein the predetermined recording pattern is recorded by the first recording means. A test pattern recorded on at least a part of a test pattern by a second recording means, wherein the test pattern is recorded by a recording colorant different from the recording colorant recorded by the first recording means. Recording method. 9. The test pattern recording method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined test pattern recorded by the first recording unit includes the predetermined test pattern recorded by the second recording unit. 10. The test pattern recording method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined test pattern is a block pattern having a predetermined duty. 11. Near the predetermined test pattern recorded by the first and second recording means, further comprises the first
9. The test pattern recording method according to claim 8, wherein a predetermined test pattern is recorded by the third recording means, wherein the recording is performed using a recording colorant different from the recording colorant recorded by the second recording means. .